Walking into The Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela on March 8th for the MPBL 2025 Season opener, I felt that familiar rush of adrenaline mixed with calculated calm that defines basketball sports photography. Having shot over 200 games across various leagues, I’ve come to appreciate that capturing the perfect basketball moment isn’t just about having a fancy camera—it’s about anticipating human movement, understanding light, and telling a story in a single frame. That evening, as NEW-LOOK Abra faced Binan and Ilagan Isabela clashed with Sarangani, I was reminded why this craft demands both technical precision and artistic intuition. Let me share with you ten essential tips I’ve gathered through years of trial, error, and occasional brilliance, all while drawing from that electrifying opening night.
First things first—know your gear inside out. I shoot with a Canon EOS R5 paired with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens about 85% of the time during games, and let me be honest, it’s not the brand that matters but how well you’ve mastered it. Before the MPBL games even tipped off, I spent a good 30 minutes testing shutter speeds and ISO settings under the arena’s mixed lighting, which can be notoriously tricky. During the Binan-Abra matchup, I noticed the overhead lights created harsh shadows, so I dialed my ISO to 1600 and kept my shutter at 1/1000th of a second to freeze those rapid crossovers and slam dunks. It’s these small adjustments that separate pro-level shots from amateur blur. And don’t even get me started on autofocus—I rely on continuous AF with tracking, but I’ve customized the sensitivity to avoid losing players mid-drive. Trust me, spending time with your camera manual might sound boring, but it pays off when you nail that game-winning shot.
Positioning is everything in basketball photography, and I learned this the hard way early in my career. During the Ilagan-Sarangani game, I positioned myself diagonally from the basket near the baseline, giving me clean sightlines for both offensive drives and defensive stands. I’m not a fan of shooting directly under the hoop—it distorts perspectives and often misses the emotion on players’ faces. Instead, I prefer angles that capture the intensity in their eyes as they elevate for a jumper or the subtle communication between teammates. Another pro tip: move during timeouts or quarter breaks. I shifted sides three times that night, and it allowed me to capture Abra’s point guard directing traffic from one end and Sarangani’s center contesting shots from the other. Some photographers camp in one spot all game, but I find that lazy. The best shots often come from anticipating where the action will flow, not where it’s happening now.
Let’s talk about timing and anticipation. Basketball moves at a blistering pace—players can cover the court in under 4 seconds—so you’ve got to think two plays ahead. I watch players’ footwork and body language to predict moments like steals or fast breaks. During the third quarter of the Binan-Abra game, I noticed Abra’s shooting guard leaning slightly forward before a possession change, so I prefocused and caught a stunning steal and transition dunk that became the highlight of my gallery. This isn’t luck; it’s pattern recognition developed over years. I also use burst mode sparingly—maybe 5-7 frames per second—because spraying and praying fills your memory card with mediocre shots. Instead, I tap the shutter precisely at the peak of action, like when a player hangs in the air before releasing the ball. It’s more satisfying and yields sharper, more intentional images.
Lighting in indoor arenas can be a nightmare, but I’ve grown to love the challenge. The Capital Arena had a mix of LED panels and fluorescent lights, creating color temperatures around 4500K with occasional hotspots. I shoot in RAW always, which gives me flexibility in post-processing, but I also set a custom white balance based on the court floor during warm-ups. Personally, I avoid using flash during games—it distracts players and often washes out colors. Instead, I embrace available light to preserve the atmosphere. During timeouts, I’ll sometimes bump my ISO to 3200 or even 6400 if the lighting drops, accepting a bit of grain for the sake of capturing raw emotion. Grain can add character; motion blur rarely does.
Composition is where artistry meets technique. I frame shots with negative space in the direction of movement—it creates dynamic tension. When Ilagan’s power forward drove baseline against Sarangani, I left space ahead of him, making the image feel like it’s moving beyond the frame. I also focus on eyes and hands; they tell the story of effort and focus. Close-ups of sweaty faces during free throws or clenched fists after a block can be as powerful as any dunk. And I’m not afraid to break rules—sometimes I’ll tilt the camera for a Dutch angle during a chaotic rebound, because basketball isn’t always tidy. It’s controlled chaos, and your photos should reflect that.
Post-processing is my quiet time after the roar of the game. I spend roughly 45 minutes culling 1500 shots down to 150 keepers using Lightroom, then another hour on edits. I boost contrast and clarity to make muscles and jerseys pop, but I’m careful not to oversaturate—those MPBL team colors like Abra’s deep blue and Sarangani’s vibrant red should look natural, not neon. I’ll also crop to eliminate distractions like referees or signage, but only if it doesn’t compromise the story. Some purists argue for minimal editing, but I believe post-processing is part of modern photography. Just keep it authentic; don’t turn a layup into a dunk.
Finally, connect with the game emotionally. I’ve shot basketball for 12 years, and my best work comes when I’m invested not just as a photographer but as a fan. That night in Isabela, I felt the momentum swings—the hope in Binan’s rally, the frustration in Sarangani’s missed opportunities. Let that energy guide your lens. Stay curious, keep learning, and remember that each game is a new chapter. Whether you’re covering a local MPBL opener or the NBA finals, these tips will help you capture not just moments, but memories. Now grab your camera, find your spot, and tell the story only you can see.